DRAFT
Finance Committee Minutes
Town of Bellingham – Municipal Center
Lower Level
Monday, January 26, 2009
1. FinCom Present: Carol Dill, Joseph Collamati, Henri Masson, Gary Maynard, Toni Picariello
2. FinCom Absent: Raymond Szczepan, Roland Lavallee
3. Meeting called to order: 7:15 pm
4. DPW – Vote to authorize emergency spending for the Snow & Ice Account.
Marilyn Mathieu appeared and informed the Committee that the Snow and Ice account is up to $625,000 and only $100,000 was appropriated at Town Meeting.
Henri Masson/Carol Dill motion to authorize emergency spending of the Snow and Ice Budget. VOTE: 5/0
5. GENERAL DISCUSSION
Marilyn Mathieu will know January 28, 2009 how much the Governor will cut aid to the Towns on the Cherry Sheet. She estimates that for FY2010 between $800-900,000 will be cut from the Cherry Sheet for Bellingham. She will email us when she gets the State Budget.
She will be requesting a Reserve Fund Transfer to pay overtime because an employee in the payroll department will be out on a long term disability. This is not an on-the-job injury.
Marilyn Mathieu mentioned that two contracts have been settled. The wage increases are 3% per year for three years. Because of the wage increases, the town negotiated to raise co-pays on health insurance. All of the Unions, except the Police Union accepted the higher co-pays. Bellingham offers health insurance through Harvard Pilgrim, BCBS and in the future, possibly Fallon. Toni Picariello will request copies of the signed Contracts.
Toni Picariello brought up that she would like to see separate Warrant Articles when funding contracts. This way the taxpayer will know how much the contract will cost the town and could ask questions. At this time, the increased figures to fund a contract is included in the budget. Gary Maynard did not like the idea, because of the potential that the Town Meeting vote would pit departments against each other. The FinCom will not agree as a Committee to request separate Articles. It was agreed that if Toni Picariello wanted separate Articles, she could petition the Board of Selectmen as an individual citizen.
A. Pay Alternative Printing Bill – STM Booklet $192.00; FinCom Supplies
Joseph Collamati/Carol Dill motion to pay the following expenses. VOTE 4/0/1 (Toni Picariello abstained since one of the expenses is a reimbursement).
Alternative Printing Special TM Booklet $192.00
Toni Picariello 3 Ink Cartridges $ 78.99
B. Pay Clerk’s Stipend – November & December 2008 & January, 2009.
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to pay the clerk’s stipend for November and December 2008 and January 2009 in the amount of $717. VOTE: 4/0/1 (Toni Picariello abstained because she is the clerk)
C. Accept Minutes:
October 16, 2008 – Joseph Collamati/Carol Dill motion to accept the minutes with minor corrections. VOTE: 5/0
October 27, 2008 – Joseph Collamati/Carol Dill motion to accept the minutes with minor corrections. VOTE: 4/0/1 (Gary Maynard abstained because he was not at the meeting.)
November 24, 2008 – Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to accept the minutes with minor corrections. VOTE: 4/0/1 (Carol Dill abstained because she was not at the meeting.)
D. Vote to appoint Clerk
Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to vote to appoint Toni Picariello at FinCom clerk until ATM2010. VOTE: 4/0/1 (Toni Picariello abstained)
E. Review the Liaison List
Everyone one wants to stay liaisons to the Department & Committees they have. Toni Picariello will join Henri Masson with Cemetery Commission & Council on Ageing. Toni Picariello will update the Liaison List and distribute it.
Adjourned: Joseph Collamati/Henri Masson motion to adjourn. VOTE: 5/0. 8:00 p.m.
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